June 17, 2025
Draining the Moat
As part of the State of Florida preservation grant, Bok Tower Gardens is working to preserve and improve the nearly 100-year-old iconic Singing Tower. This project began with draining the Singing Tower’s Moat on Monday, June 16, 2025.
Historically, the Moat was drained yearly during the slow season; however, the Singing Tower’s Moat has not been drained since 2010. After the draining, the Moat will be thoroughly cleaned and inspected for tree root damage or leaks. The Moat is estimated to be empty for 3-4 weeks. Once all inspections and repairs are made, the Moat will be refilled. Members of the Bok Tower Gardens facility team are completing the project.
A Round-Up and Spa-cation for the Koi
The Koi round-up began on Tuesday, June 17, and 17 Koi were captured and transported to a quarantine containment pond at the High Alert Institute Koi Rescue & Shelter. Bok Tower Gardens is collaborating with this Lake Wales non-profit to provide a “spa-cation” for the treasured Koi and will work collectively to create a natural filtration environment once the draining and cleaning are completed.
The largest Koi collected on day one of the round-up was 32 inches. The Koi will live in quarantine containment ponds for at least 30 days while being examined by an aquatic veterinarian.
The Koi captured on Tuesday, June 17, underwent an initial exam, and no infections or parasites were found. While the Moat may appear very dirty during draining, the water quality is good, and the sediment at the bottom of the Moat is normal.
The Koi will continue to be examined and monitored by a veterinarian at the shelter.
Next Steps
The Koi Round-Up continues today (June 18), and approximately 10-15 fish remain in the Moat. The fish feeders have been removed from the Tower; however, one fish feeder remains at the Reflection Pond.
The Koi- Round-Up Team: Dr. Maurice Ramirez (High Alert Institute), Allison Sakara (High Alert Institute), Jesus Diaz (Bok Tower Gardens, and Kyle VanFossen (Bok Tower Gardens).